MoHistory

Skinker Boulevard has always been a beloved piece of St. Louis history, but did you know that it was also the inspiration for a nationwide poem contest? The early years of the 20th century marked a transformative time in our region’s history. Preparations for the upcoming 1904 World’s Fair were underway and excitement was at …

Continue reading "“Singin’ Up Skinker Road”: The Poem Contest That Captivated the Nation"

Listen to an episode about the early history of Forest Park on our Here’s History podcast with KDHX. Today Forest Park is seen as one of the jewels of St. Louis. This 1,300-acre park is home to many of the city’s cultural institutions, like the Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, and Saint Louis Zoo. It’s …

Continue reading "How Forest Park Got Its Start"

By 1923, St. Louis-born poet Sara Teasdale had achieved national acclaim for her poetry, especially her award-winning 1917 collection, Love Songs. The time seemed ripe to expand her audience to England. Sara had long been fascinated with England, and when her husband embarked on an extended European business trip in the summer of 1923, she …

Continue reading "An American Poet in London"

Among the leading newspapers in St. Louis’s history, one of the oldest and most recognizable Black-owned newspapers in the city area is the St. Louis Argus. The Argus began not as an official newspaper, but as a trade paper. The Western Union Relief Association; its general manager, Joseph Everett “J. E.” Mitchell; and his brother, William …

Continue reading "The Many Eyes of the St. Louis Argus"

On July 26, 2022, the St. Louis region saw a rainfall that smashed all previous records—a “once in a thousand year” downpour of more than 9 inches of rain hit the region, blowing past the previous record of 6.85 inches set over a century ago on August 20, 1915. Thousands were left reeling from damage …

Continue reading "A Helping Hand: St. Louisans in Times of Natural Disasters"

The Lindbergh 100 project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-30-19-0454-19. On December 14, 1927, Charles Lindbergh landed in Mexico City after a 27-hour flight from Washington, DC—the first-ever nonstop flight between the capitals. The latest record-breaking flight for the young pilot marked the beginning of his Pan …

Continue reading "“When Lindy Comes Staggering Home”"

The Missouri Historical Society (MHS) needs your help to tell the stories of the St. Louis region’s diverse LGBTQIA+ communities. Time is running out for community members to contribute materials to an upcoming exhibit. There is a special need for pieces that tell the stories of LGBTQIA+ families, LGBTQIA+ people of color, and identities beyond …

Continue reading "A Call to the Community: Help Us Tell Diverse LGBTQIA+ Stories"

Waste collection can pose challenges for any large city, but this isn’t the first time St. Louisans have been talking about the problem of trash. Here are three unexpected stories about how garbage was dealt with in the past. The First Waste Pickup in St. Louis The first waste pickup in St. Louis up wasn’t …

Continue reading "3 Times St. Louis Dealt with Trash in Unexpected Ways"

EDITOR’S NOTE: In order to bring a plurality of voices to our storytelling, the Missouri Historical Society frequently asks guest writers to contribute to History Happens Here. The views and opinions expressed by guest contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missouri Historical Society, its affiliates, or …

Continue reading "A Ride through Buffalo Soldier History"

Dear St. Louis, Thank you. Thank you for making me feel at home in a way I never have before. Thank you for helping me raise my children. Thank you for inspiring and challenging me. Thank you for trusting me to be president of the Missouri Historical Society, the keeper of your stories, the preserver …

Continue reading "Dear St. Louis: A Letter from MHS President, Dr. Jody Sowell"

While famous New England battles such as those of Saratoga and Trenton have long dominated the conversations surrounding the Revolutionary War, the city of St. Louis’s impact on the American victory is often forgotten. By the late 18th century, the small French fur-trading settlement was owned and operated by the Spanish Empire, with Lieutenant Governor …

Continue reading "Remembering the Battle of St. Louis"

Caroline May Bruggeman was born in Illinois in May 1881. Specific details about her early years and upbringing are scarce. However, she learned how to play piano and read sheet music, like many others during the late 19th century. It’s possible that she took piano lessons in some capacity, though she lacked any formal musical …

Continue reading "From Ragtime to Lullabies to Hillbilly: The Compositions and Legacy of Carrie Bruggeman Stark"

Listen to an episode about the 1904 Aeronautic Competition on our Here’s History podcast with KDHX. For many visitors, going to the 1904 World’s Fair was about seeing the newest technology from around the globe. From the wireless telegraph to electric lights, Fairgoers were inundated with the kinds of technology that would change the world …

Continue reading "Mystery at the 1904 Aeronautic Competition"

The list of directors for whom Affton native John Goodman has worked is a Hollywood who’s who, including Robert Zemeckis, Arthur Hiller, John Landis, Kevin Smith, Stephen Spielberg, and (in multiple films) the Coen brothers. But years before Goodman ever stepped foot onto a Hollywood soundstage, he was “knocking ‘em dead” on the stage at …

Continue reading "John Goodman’s First Director"

June Bosley jokes that when the doctor delivered her on April 13, 1935, they almost took her for deceased. The doctor slapped her three times but got no reaction. She laughs, “But he decided to hit me one more time, and my mother said, ‘You haven’t shut up since.’” Born to Preston T. and Alma …

Continue reading "June Bosley’s Voice"

EDITOR’S NOTE: In order to bring a plurality of voices to our storytelling, the Missouri Historical Society frequently asks guest writers to contribute to History Happens Here. The views and opinions expressed by guest contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missouri Historical Society, its affiliates, or …

Continue reading "Archer Alexander, American Hero"

Listen to an episode about Antoine Saugrain on our Here’s History podcast with KDHX. When St. Louis was established in 1764, it was a small trading outpost. Its founders had grand visions for what that trading outpost might become, but one thing that they probably never imagined is that St. Louis would become a home of …

Continue reading "The Doctor Who Shaped Early St. Louis"

The Lindbergh 100 project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-30-19-0454-19. Work on the Lindbergh 100 Project continues. We’ve reached the final stage of collections management work on the project, which entails rehousing the entire collection. Our collections specialists will work methodically throughout the summer to make sure that …

Continue reading "Behind the Scenes: Housing the Lindbergh Collection"

Anna Maria von Phul was the earliest known woman artist working in what was then called the Missouri Territory. Born in Philadelphia and raised largely in Kentucky, she spent her last half-decade in and around St. Louis. Her artwork illustrates life in the Missouri Territory during the 1810s and 1820s, including the people, culture, architecture, …

Continue reading "Anna Maria von Phul: Year by Year"

Black modistes displayed their skill and brilliance as they wove and stitched together pieces of fabric to create beautiful ensembles. One such woman was Elizabeth (Lizzie) Hobbs Keckly (also spelled Keckley), whose skillful hands and ingenuity brought her into prominence as a dressmaker as recounted in her memoir, Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a …

Continue reading "Elizabeth Keckly: A Gifted Modiste"